From Place of Refuge to Place of Action:
150-year Jubilee of the Franciscan Sisters in Denekamp,the Netherlands
November 21, 2025
From Place of Refuge to Place of Action: 150-year Jubilee of the Franciscan Sisters in Denekamp, the Netherlands November 21, 2025 “Thanks be to Bismarck!” With this deliberately unusual and tongue-in-cheek perspective, Bishop Cornelissen began his opening remarks at the Jubilee celebrating of 150 years since thebeginning of the mission house in the Netherlands and the former Province St. Anthony in Denekamp. With that introduction, he directed our gaze towards the particular history of its coming into existence. During the time of the Kulturkampf in the German Reich, the young congregation of Franciscan sisters in Thuine was threatened by laws passed by Chancellor Bismarck.
To acquire a secure place in case of emergency, Mother M. Anselma purchased the manor “Het Gravenhuis” in Denekamp/Noord-Deurningen on November 22, 1875. Just one day later she brought three sisters there – and the Thuine Franciscan’s first daughter house in a foreign country was born. From this tiny place of refuge, another province developed, which at times was comprised of approximately 700 sisters. From Denekamp, the Order sent sisters to Indonesia in 1932 – and it is now a flourishing, independent province. From 1960 to 2004, sisters from the Dutch Province also worked in Tanzania. Since 2000, Indonesian sisters are now in turn supporting the community in Denekamp; currently, five of these sisters serve there.
Numerous guests came for the Jubilee Celebration on November 21, 2025: Bishop Cornelissen (Groningen), Auxiliary Bishop Woorts (Utrecht), who was the main celebrant for the Mass, Superior General Mother Maria Cordis, representatives from the General Administration and the Provincial Administration of the German Province, the Indonesian Provincial Superior, Mother M. Aquina, with two other sisters from Indonesia, as well as political representatives from the area and many people who have accompanied the sisters along their way.
After the celebratory Mass there was time together for coffee and refreshments, followed by amultifaceted presentation: Mother Maria Cordis shed light on the history of the former Dutch Province and current mission house and Mayor John Joosten honored the work of the sisters in the Netherlands. Additionally, Leo Fijen presented the jubilee book, “Coming Home to Denekamp” (Thuiskomen in Denekamp), which is a collection of stories based on numerous interviews with sisters, their co-workers, guests, and other people connected with the convent.Then, under the motto Past – Present – Future (Verleden – Heden – Toekomst), the Dutch and Indonesian sisters strikingly presented memories from the past, current experiences, and desires for the future. Musical contributions and choreographed interludes by the Indonesian sisters enriched the celebration.
To conclude, an oak tree was planted outside and the festive finale was a meal together at anearby guesthouse. The variety of this Jubilee day reflected in a striking way the variety of the history and the work of the sisters in the Netherlands, a tree that is deeply rooted and blessed with rich fruit.
